This kind of animated map has been making the rounds lately, as people struggle to understand Islam, or the Crimea. What's more engrossing for me is the splintered condition of Germany between the late 15th and late 18th centuries. Once they got it together, look out!
I wonder if Germany really was exceptional in its disunity during that time, or if it's more an artifact of the map-drawer's decisions about graphics. Someone here who's less ignorant of post-14th-century European may be able to help me.
"Germany" really was that divided. There were developing religious, linguistic, and cultural unities, but Central Europe remained a collection of city-states, princedoms, petty kingdoms, and church lands until 1870. One thing the Holy Roman Empire did was provide a forum for all the disperate parts (those that were members) to discuss and resolve differences. Yeah, I know, it was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire, but the institution functioned pretty well for what it was, the period of 1604-1649 aside. To this day there are distinct differences between parts of Germany and Austria, along with the similarities. Last year's flooding in Germany brought some of those differences out rather clearly.
ReplyDeleteLittleRed1
Pretty much what little Red said, but the HRE was abolished in 1806 by Napoleon, and the majority of the small states were integrated into larger units, most of which managed to stay around after 1815 until 1866, (Austro-Prussian War) and then 1870 (Franco-Prussian) war. Despite the proclamation of Empire, it was still quite a federal entity, with some kingdoms (Bavaria, Wurrtemburg, Saxony) still nominally seperate within it. Even in 1914, The Bavarians wore a different uniform to war than the Prussians, and although this borders on the antiquarian, the helmet plates were different, depending on whether the regiment was Prussian, Hessian, Saxon, Bavarian, Wurrtemburg etc..
ReplyDeleteKeep an eye on Italy too, next time. Also a chaotic collection of small states over that time period.
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